Page 64 - BBC Wildlife Volume 36 #06

SWIFTS

THIS JUNE IS THE FIRST
SWIFT AWARENESS WEEK.

NATURE RESERVES DON’T
SAVE SWIFTS; PEOPLE DO.

PEOPLE LIKE YOU.

groups of 50 swifts and they are very fast-
moving. Next year we arranged a brilliant talk
by Edward Mayer, who runs the website Swift
Conservation. There was a record audience
and Edward galvanised us all into action. He
was the catalyst. We’ve never looked back.”
Today the swift group divides its time
between making swift nestboxes, scouring
the area for potential new sites for nest
bricks (the built-in alternative), lobbying
building owners, keeping an eye on adverse
planning applications, carrying out surveys
and organising talks and guided walks for
the public. Meeting some of the group at
an outdoor cafe – near a banner declaring
“Bradford Welcomes Back the Swifts: Help us
help them” – it is impossible not to be full of
admiration for what they have achieved.
“We’re an unlikely bunch,” Rowena
admits modestly. “But we are practical and
determined too,” adds Jean Grayshon. “We’ve
got a lot of skills between us.” Jean’s husband SAVING SWIFTS
Pete is part of the nestbox-construction team,
along with Roger Beckett, who handily is a THE REHABILITATOR
part-time carpenter. “I’ve got scouts who keep Judith Wakelam, Worlington, Su olk
an eye out for suitable bits of wood in skips,”
he grins. “The boxes cost us hardly anything.”
Meanwhile, Kate Nicholls happens also to In 2002, I found a swift direct from the
be a member of this picturesque town’s chick by the kerb when out public.They vary
preservation society, which comes in useful walking my dog.As a keen from birds a week
when getting agreement for more nestboxes. naturalist, I knew it was a old to ones that
swift and had no chance. made a mistake and
BOXING CLEVER Normally, of course, it’s fledged earlier than the
Later, we stroll round the town to inspect the best to leave seemingly average 42 days. Fledging
group’s handiwork. We see nest bricks in the abandoned nestlings alone, swifts get one chance at
f
gable ends of a new-build terrace, so neat the as the parents will probably flight.If they fluf it,that’s it.
owners may not realise they exist (“We ought be nearby. Swifts are an I feed them in my kitchen,
to pop a friendly note through their doors one exception – they’re the one and they live in what was
day,” Jean says). There’s a historic dovecote species that can’t come the spare room.When they from my palm in the open
where the too-large openings have been down to feed young that start to do wing press-ups, – never from an upstairs
adapted to make them swift-friendly. There have fallen out of the nest. they move into a child’s cot. window. Nothing is more
are several wooden nestboxes, again barely But when I tried to get I ofer crickets, mealworms rewarding than to take a
noticeable from street level. “See that ugly guidance on what to do, and waxworms.Young ones creature that belongs in
yellow burglar alarm box?” asks Kate. “That’s there was none. Everyone may need up to 10 feeds a the air and set it free.
more obtrusive than any swift nestbox.” said I was just wasting my day, but close
Most impressive of all are the multiple time. So I rang the BTO, to fledging
Nestlings
boxes hidden away behind the louvres in who put me on to the late they want less cling to their
the tower of Holy Trinity Church, beside the Chris Mead. He was so, so and less. Now travel-cot
River Avon. As one of the highest buildings in encouraging.And with his I can‘read’ nursery.
the town, it is ideal for swifts. “Dealing with help, I was able to do it. the fledging
Church: composite mage Rowena. “But the vicar was lovely, so helpful.” out, I take in 35–45 swift must reach
signals.They
Now that word has got
the church authorities took two years,” says
38–48g
The group are hopeful that the first boxes
nestlings every year.They
before I
in the church tower will be occupied this
come from conservation
summer, especially as Newtown, a nearby
64 BBC Wildlife charities, local vets and release them